I only have a couple more chapters left of this story then that's it finished. Then I'll be posting up the sequel. I felt like this needed to be finished where I finished it at or I would have ended up writing over 100 chapters and not really getting anywhere. The sequel will my first ever time attemping a certain type of story (says no more). There's also a lot going on with different things so I needed to stop this story soon.

Thanks for all the lovely reviews on the last few chapters I have posted up recently.

Chapter 50 – Forgiveness

Ginny and Harry returned to the house along with Bill as dinner was ready. Molly had been walking around on egg shells, worrying that Ginny was going to have another outburst. Thankfully all was quiet while everyone enjoyed their food. After everyone had finished, Molly left her seat at the table and offered to help her Mum clear up.

"I just want to say I'm sorry for what I said the other day. I was just angry at what was happening and had no right to take it out on you." Ginny apologised.
"Oh Ginny, it's quite alright. You had every right to be angry." Molly said, pulling her daughter into a hug.
"I need to apologise to Hermione too. I was so harsh towards her." Ginny said. "The last thing she needs is me being nasty to her."
"I think she'll really appreciate having her best friend back again." Molly said. "Like your father said, we all have to stick together now and support one another."
"We do because what Ron did will not ruin us." Ginny stated.
"It's going to be a tough road for all of us now, between getting over the war and now this." Molly sniffed.
"We'll get through it all Mum. We're all stronger than we think and together we'll be able to support one another." Ginny said.
"We do indeed." Molly agreed.

The two hugged for a short time until Arthur came into the kitchen and pulled his two most favourite ladies in the world into a hug too.

"What's going on here?" George wondered.
"I apologised to Mum for my outburst." Ginny answered.
"What about Hermione?" George asked.
"I will speak to her in a moment." Ginny said.
"Are you and Harry going back to Sirius' house?" George then asked.
"Yes. Sirius wants to start sorting out the house and wants Harry and I to lend a hand. I'm sure he wouldn't mind you, Fred and Hermione helping too." Ginny answered.
"What's he thinking of doing?" George asked.
"Cleaning the place first then he wants to change the décor, get rid of all that horrible dark stuff." Ginny answered.
"It's about bloody time. Some of the stuff in that house gave me the creeps." Fred said.
"We'll give a hand, if he wants." George offered.
"I better go and speak to Hermione." Ginny said then left the kitchen.

*****
Hermione was sitting underneath her favourite oak tree in the garden of the burrow. It overlooked the lake which they had swam in many a summer. She had her legs stretched out in front of her as she read one of her many books, her eyes scanning the pages quickly. Reading was one of Hermione's escapes and with everything that had happened, she relied on her beloved books more than ever. Her book of choice this time was Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Ginny knew exactly where to find Hermione, after she realised she wasn't in the living room. She tottered down the stony path towards the lake and found Hermione sitting engrossed in her book.

"Mind if I join you?" Ginny asked.
"Of course." Hermione replied.
"What are you reading?" Ginny wondered.
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. My Mum used to read it to me when I was little. There's a film about it too which I love." Hermione answered.
"Is a film one of those things you watch on a television?" Ginny asked.
"Yes. I can show you one sometime if you'd like?" Hermione offered.
"I'd like that a lot." Ginny replied, smiling.
"I'll take you to a cinema sometime too. It's where you get to watch a film on a huge screen." Hermione said.
"Look Hermione, I want to apologise for what I said to you the other day. I was far too harsh towards you and you didn't deserve it at all. I'm sorry." Ginny apologised.
"It's ok Gin, apology accepted." Hermione replied. "To be honest, I deserved everything you shouted at me. If I had of spoke up sooner about Ron, Harry wouldn't have been hurt."
"We're safe from Ron now. He's in the right place." Ginny said.
"I can't believe Ron would think I'm a slut." Hermione said.
"You're not a slut, Hermione. He just can't handle the fact that he got caught out and is getting punished for what he did to you." Ginny said.
"Does he actually believe that I've been with his brothers? I've never looked at them in that way. I'm just friends with them all." Hermione said.

"Ron's always been a jealous git and hated seeing you get attention from other guys. It doesn't help that he's always been overshadowed by our brothers. Paranoia and jealously are his worst traits." Ginny answered.
"Ron will be a very lonely man if he insists on treating women like that." Hermione said.
"No woman would want to go near him after what he did to you." Ginny said.
"No man would want to go near me now. I'm tarnished goods." Hermione said, sadly.
"That's not true, Hermione. You are a beautiful, smart, strong, young woman who any man would be lucky enough to be friends with let alone date." Ginny answered. "I know of one in particular who especially has a soft spot for you and I don't mean Harry."
"Who?" Hermione asked.

"Do you really want to know?" Ginny wondered.
"Yes. That's why I asked you." Hermione giggled.
"Well I think you like him too but you've been too blind to see it. Either that or you're fighting how you really feel about him." Ginny said.
"I don't like anyone at the moment." Hermione stated.
"Alright I'll tell you then." Ginny said. "It's Fred."
"Fred?" Hermione gasped.
"Oh come on Hermione. He's been stuck to your side ever since we found out about Ron's abuse." Ginny answered.
"He's just being friendly, like all your brothers are." Hermione said.
"Ah, but I happen to know that Fred likes you. He told me himself but he was just going to concentrate being a supportive friend to you." Ginny said.
"I guess I haven't really thought about it what with everything that has been happening but we do get on and he has been more than amazing towards me recently." Hermione said.
"Look Hermione. Fred is a good man and I'm not just saying that because he's one of my brothers but it's the truth. He'd jump through hoops of fire for you and he'd treat you well." Ginny said.
"I don't think I'm ready to open myself up to another man just yet." Hermione admitted.
"You don't have to rush into anything with Fred, just get to know him better. You might find yourself falling for him but then again you might not, but it's worth a try." Ginny said.
"Do you think it's a good idea after what Ron shouted at me earlier? He's already accusing me of going with his brothers. It won't look good." Hermione said.
"Who cares about what he thinks? You've got to put yourself first for a change, screw Ron and everyone else." Ginny answered.

What do you think Hermione should do regarding Fred?